Framber Valdez gets the start for the Astros (54-43, 29-21 away) against JP Sears and the Athletics (27-72, 14-37 home). Today will be game two of their series, with the Astros leading 1-0. Check out who I like to see who comes out on top in today’s Houston Astros vs. Oakland Athletics matchup.

HOUSTON ASTROS VS OAKLAND ATHLETICS BETTING PICK

The Pick: Oakland Athletics +1.5 Runs

This game will be played at Oakland Coliseum at 9:40 ET on Friday, July 21st.

WHY BET THE OAKLAND ATHLETICS:

  • In their previous three games, the Athletics are 2-1 vs. the runline.
  • The Astros have gone just 3-7 in their last ten games vs. the runline.
  • The Astros are just 1-2 in Framber Valdez’s last three starts.

HOUSTON ASTROS ON A RUNLINE WIN STREAK

Houston head into today’s game seeking their 3rd straight win and are in 2nd place in the AL West. On the road, Houston is 29-21 and 25-22 at home. With an overall record of 54-43, the Astros have a series win percentage of 54% (15-13-2).

Framber Valdez has been a reliable starter for the Astros this season, going at least six innings in five consecutive games and boasting a 7-6 record through 18 appearances. His ERA stands at 2.76, while his WHIP is 1.07. The southpaw’s K/BB ratio is 129/28 and he has limited opponents to a .338 slugging percentage and .224 batting average against him.

Framber Valdez was unable to secure a victory in his last outing, despite pitching 6 1/3 innings and earning a quality start. The Astros ultimately fell to the Angels 13-12, with Valdez surrendering seven hits and five earned runs.

During their last ten games, Houston is the 18th ranked offense in terms of batting average. In these games, they have hit a combined .224 and are averaging 4.4 runs per game. Across the entire season, the Astros are hitting .249 with an OBP of .318 while averaging 4.7 runs per contest. This figure puts them 11th in the league.

The Astros have seen Chas McCormick take off over their last five games, with the outfielder leading the team in home runs (3). His season total now stands at 12, and he’s hitting .286.

WILL THE OAKLAND ATHLETICS TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS AT HOME?

Through 99 games, the Athletics are in 5th place in the AL West on an overall record of 27-72. So far, they have a below .500 record at home, going just 14-37. For the season, Oakland has played in 30 series and gone 7-22-1.

JP Sears has made 19 appearances so far in the 2023 season, with an impressive 1.02 WHIP and a .415 slugging percentage allowed. His ERA stands at 3.99, and he has tallied 100 strikeouts for the season, averaging 8.49 per nine innings. On the road, his record is 1-4 with an ERA of 4.27; at home, it’s 0-2 with an ERA of 4.29.

JP Sears was unable to secure a victory in his last start, surrendering three runs over 6 1/3 innings. Despite the quality start, the Athletics were unable to come away with a win, falling to the Twins 5-4.

Over their last ten games, the Athletics are ranked 20th in the league in scoring at 3.4 runs per game. Their season-long scoring average of 3.6 per contest puts them 27th in baseball. In terms of on-base percentage, Oakland is 20th, with an OBP currently sitting at .300. The team’s collective batting average is .221 (24th).

Over the Athletics’ last five games, Tony Kemp has been their top hitter, batting .300. For the 2023 season, Kemp is hitting .208 and has 19 RBIs.